INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER

A computer is an electronic device that accepts user input (data) and processes
it under the influence of a set of instructions referred to as programs to produce
the desired output generally referred to as information.
• Data: Data are the raw or unprocessed facts about anything. Data does
not make sense unless they are processed, e.g. e, t, g, r, e.t.c.
• Programs are set of instructions that instruct a computer what to do.
• Information: It refers to data that has been processed in such a way that
it is meaningful and useful to the person who receives it. Therefore,
Information is referred to as the end product of data processing, e.g. the
pay slips of an employee showing gross pay, tax, net pay, e.t.c.
Information is also known as output.

Components of Computer
Computers mainly consist of two components, hardware and software.
Computer components are divided into two major parts namely hardware and
software.

1. Hardware Components
Hardware refers to the physical components that make up a computer system. It
includes visible and non-visible parts inside the system unit that you can’t see
unless you open. These include the CPU, memory, monitor, keyboard, mouse,
disk drive, printer and so on
Examples of Hardware are following:
Input devices -- keyboard, mouse etc.
Output devices -- printer, monitor etc.
Secondary storage devices -- Hard disk, CD, DVD etc.
Internal components -- CPU, motherboard, RAM etc.

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 2. Software Components
Software also referred to as programs is a set of instructions that directs a
computer what to do. A computer cannot do anything without instructions. A
computer must first read instructions before it can start to work. When a
computer is turned on, it first finds and read its system software. Once a
computer has done this and is “booted up” or ready to go, it can read other
instructions called application software. This type of software tells the computer
how to do a specific task with a user, like writing a report, playing a game, or
creating a graph.
Computer software is generally classified into:
 a) System software (operating system, device drivers & utilities)
b) Application software (application programs)

A. System Software
Does fundamental tasks such as computer boot up and system control. System
software are further classified into:
 Operating system
 Utility software
 Device drivers

Operating System
An operating system is a program that manages the computer hardware
resources and controls the execution of application programs. Examples are:
 Microsoft Windows 98/2000/Me/2003/Vista/XP/Windows 8,10, etc
 UNIX
 Linux
 MacOS
Functions of Operating System
Today most operating systems perform the following important functions:
i. Processor management: It manages the assignment of processor to
different tasks being performed by the computer system.
ii. Memory management: It manages the allocation of main memory and
other storage areas to the system programmes as well as user programmes
and data.
iii. Input / Output management: It manages the co-ordination and assignment
of different Input and Output devices while one or more programmes are
executed.

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iv. File management: It allows all files to be easily changed and modified
through the use of text editors or some other file manipulation routines.
v. Establishment and enforcement of a priority system: It determines and
maintains the order in which jobs are to be executed in the computer
system.
vi. Interpretation of commands and instructions.
vii. Facilitates easy communication between the computer system and the
computer operator

Utility Software:
Utility software also called service programs are special programs used to
enhance performance, both at system and user levels. System level utilities
optimizes system performance while application-level utilities help in smooth
running of application programs. Examples are
 Norton utility- Cleans and helps speed up your PC by working to fix
common issues that can cause frustrating slowdowns or crashes.
Identifies and helps you remove unwanted start up programs that slow
you down. Helps maintain your digital privacy by enabling you to erase
your browser file downloads
 McAfee suites- Detects, quarantines, and blocks viruses and malware to
prevent damage to your PC. Enables you to delete unnecessary cookies
and temporary internet file

Device Driver
A device driver is a special kind of software program that controls a hardware
device attached to a computer. They are necessary to permit a computer to
interface and interact with specific devices. Examples of device drivers are
drivers related to Bluetooth or wireless, keyboards, mice, etc

B. Application Software
These are user written programs to do a specific job which can be changed to
meet the individual needs. Examples of application software are Microsoft
products such as office, power point, etc, the origin graphical software, Minitab
statistical software etc
TYPES OF COMPUTERS
 Super Computers:
They are at the top of computer range; they are the fastest computers and
performs hundred of calculations within a second. They are considered National
Resources; very few organizations require them or can afford them. Initially,
they were used for designing weapons but now, they are used for weather
forecasting, biomedical research and air-craft design. Example of super
computers is Paragon from International Corporation in USA and Micro-
computer.
 Main-frame Computers: -
These computers are powerful than Mini-computers. They operate at very high
speed, have large storage capacities and can support hundred and sometimes
thousands of users simultaneously. They are used for data processing in large
organizations where the records of thousand employees have to be kept. They,
however, have the following short comings:
• They are very expensive
• They are not portable
• They generate a lot of heat.
 Minicomputers:
These can be considered as scaled down version of the mainframe computer.
They are designed to support more than one user at a time, usually up to two
hundred (200) users.
 Microcomputers:
These are the last to be developed. They are called personal computer (PC). The
reason for the name personal computer is that, it can be used at home or office
environment. They have the following features:
• It is durable and portable
• It is cheap compared to others
• It generates less heat
• It is fast based on input, output and memory size/speed of processor
Type of Microcomputers: Desktop, Laptop, Palmtop, etc.

Computer Functional Units

There are 4 basic functional units of computer:
 Input unit
 Storage unit
 Processing unit
 Output unit

Input Unit: This unit is used for entering data and programs into the computer
system by the user for processing. It works with the help of input devices.
An input device is any device that provides input to a computer. There are many
input devices (eg keyboard, mouse, scanner, microphone, etc) but the two most
common ones are a keyboard and mouse. Every key you press on the keyboard
and every movement or click you make with the mouse sends a specific input
signal to the computer.

Keyboard
Keyboard is the most common and very popular input device which helps in
inputting data to
the computer. The layout of the keyboard is like that of traditional typewriter,
although there
are some additional keys provided for performing additional functions. The
most commonly available computer keyboard has 104 keys.
The keys on the keyboard are as follows:

The keys on your keyboard can be divided into several groups based on
function:
Typing (alphanumeric) keys. These keys include the same letter, number,
punctuation, and symbol keys found on a traditional typewriter.
Control keys. These keys are used alone or in combination with other keys to
perform certain actions. The most frequently used control keys are Ctrl, Alt, the
Windows logo key , and Esc.
Function keys. The function keys are used to perform specific tasks. They are
labelled as F1, F2, F3, and so on, up to F12. The functionality of these keys
differs from program to program.
Navigation keys. These keys are used for moving around in documents or
webpages and editing text. They include the arrow keys, Home, End, Page Up,
Page Down, Delete, and Insert.
Numeric keypad. The numeric keypad is handy for entering numbers quickly.
The keys are grouped together in a block like a conventional calculator or
adding machine

List of computer keyboard keys and their functions in Windows

Key Name Keyboard Key Function

 Functional keys are used for a specific function in
different applications.
The functions keys are located at the top of a
keyboard and grouped into four. These keys are used
F1 to F12
for special task by most programmers. E.g, if you are
writing text with MS-Word and wanted to read Help,
you can press F1 to display the Help. F5 key will
display Find and Replace dialogue box.

Includes numbers, alphabets, and special characters.

ALPHANUMERIC To type special characters, use a combination of
SHIFT+ key with character.

TAB Used to change the indent level when typing.

CAPS LOCK Switch from lowercase to uppercase

Use with a combination of other keys. They are also

SHIFT
used to type special characters.

Is used with a combination of other keys. Mostly for

CTRL
shortcuts. i.e CTRL+C to copy

Use with a combination of other keys. I.e

ALT
CTRL+ALT+DELETE to switch user accounts.

Used to open the start button. Can be used with

WINDOW
others for special operations.

Escape key. It is used to stop action for some

ESC
applications

BACKSPACE Used to move cursor one character back. It can also

be used to delete characters on the left side of the
 cursor.

Used to move the next line of the document. Can also

ENTER
be used to accept a command.

Used to delete a character on the right side of the

DELETE
cursor.

They are directional keys. They help move or scroll

ARROW KEYS
up, down, left, and right

HOME Moves cursor to the start of typing line

END Move the cursor to the end of the line

Used to activate overtype mode. when active it

INSERT
overwrites the text on the right side of the cursor

Used to screen capture the current display on the

PrtScn
screen into a picture

PAGE UP Moves page up

PAGE DOWN Moves page down

Not all keyboard has separate number keys. They are

NUMBERS used to enter numeric values and come with
arithmetic signs

Typing a space. Can be used for other special

SPACEBAR functions in other applications like pausing a video in
a media player

Typing a text
The following keys are useful in text typing
Keyboard Shortcuts
You can do things in most programs by using the keyboard. The following table
lists some of the most useful keyboard shortcuts
Using navigation keys
The navigation keys allow you to move the cursor, move around in documents
and webpages, and edit text. The following table lists some common functions
of these keys.
2)Mouse
A device that controls the movement of the cursor or pointer on a display
screen. Its name is derived from its shape, which looks a bit like a mouse.
Generally, it has two buttons called left and right button and a wheel is present
between the buttons. The left button is the most frequently used button. As we
move the mouse, the pointer on the monitor moves in the same direction.
Scanner: It is an input device that can read text or illustrations printed on paper
and translate into digital form. The main advantage of these scanners is that the
data need not be entered separately resulting in saving lot of time. Scanner
captures images from the source which are then converted into the digital form
that can be stored on the disc. These images can be edited before they are
printed.

Scanners are of two types: i) optical scanners ii) MICR

i. Optical scanners
Example of optical scanner is barcode reader. A bar code reader is a device used
for reading bar coded data (data in form of light and dark lines). Bar coded data
is generally used in labelling goods, numbering the books etc. It may be a hand-
held scanner or may be embedded in a stationary scanner. Bar code reader scans
a bar code image, converts it into an alphanumeric value which is then fed to the
computer to which bar code reader is connected.

ii. Magnetic Ink Card Reader (MICR)

It is a character recognition technology used primarily by the banking industry
to facilitate the processing of the cheques. MICR characters (cheque No.,
Acc.No.etc) are printed in special ink usually containing iron oxide. When a
document that contains the ink needs to be read, it passes through a machine
which magnetizes the ink and there will be a reader sorter unit which translates
the magnetic information into characters. MICR provides a secure, high speed
of scanning and processing information.
Output Unit
The output unit is used for giving out the result as output produced by the
computer after processing. It achieves its function with the use of output
devices.
Output device receives information from the CPU and presents it to the user in
the desired form. The processed data, stored in the memory of the computer is
sent to the output unit, which then converts it into a form that can be understood
by the user. The commonly used computer output devices are monitor and
printer.
Monitor: is often used synonymously with “computer screen” or “display.”
Monitor is an output device that resembles the television screen. It may use a
Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) to display information. The monitor is associated
with a keyboard for manual input of characters and displays the information as
it is keyed in. It also displays the program or application output. Like the
television, monitors are also available in different sizes.
Printer: Printers are used to produce paper (commonly known as hardcopy)
output. Based on the technology used, they can be classified as Impact or Non-
impact printers.
Memory or Storage Unit
A memory or storage unit in a computer is the special unit that stores data,
programs, and other information. Any storage unit of a computer system is
classified on the basis of the following criteria:
 Access time: This is the time required to locate and retrieve stored data
from the storage unit in response to program instructions.
 Storage capacity: It is the amount of data that can be stored in the
storage unit.
 Cost per bit of storage.
Computer memory can be grouped into two main types, primary memory
(internal storage) and secondary memory (external storage).
Primary Memory: Primary memory is also called internal memory and is an
important part of a computer. It is the main area in a computer where the data is
stored. The stored data can be recalled instantly and correctly whenever desired.
This memory can be quickly accessed by the CPU for reading or storing
information. Primary memory is further classified into two types:
• Random Access Memory (RAM) and
• Read- Only Memory (ROM)
RAM
RAM is also known as read/write memory as information can be read from and
written onto it. It is the place in a computer where the operating system,
application programs and the data in current use are kept temporarily so that
they can be accessed by the computer’s processor. It is said to be ‘volatile’ since
its contents are accessible only as long as the computer is on
ROM
It is called Read-only memory as information can only be read from and not
written or changed onto ROM. Is a special type of memory in which contents of
are not lost even when the computer is switched off. It typically contains
manufacturer’s instructions. Among other things, ROM also stores an initial
program called the ‘bootstrap loader’ whose function is to start the operation of
computer system once the power is turned on

Secondary memory: The primary memory which is faster (and hence

expensive) is generally not sufficient for large storage of data. As a result,
additional memory, called the auxiliary or secondary memory is used. It is also
referred as backup storage as it is used to store large volume of data on a
permanent basis which can be transferred to the primary memory whenever
required for processing.
Secondary storage devices are of two types; magnetic and optical. Magnetic
devices include hard disks and optical storage devices are CDs, DVDs, Pen
drive (flash drive), etc.
Hard Disks: Are made up of rigid material and are usually a stack of metal
disks sealed in a box. The hard disk and the hard disk drive exist together as a
unit and is a permanent part of the computer where data and programs are
saved. These disks have storage capacities ranging from 1GB to 80 GB and
more. Hard disks are rewritable.
Compact Disk. Compact Disk (CD) is portable disk having data storage
capacity between 650-700 MB. It can hold large amount of information such as
music, full-motion videos, text, etc. CDs can be either read only or read write
type.

Digital Video Disk (DVD).

Also called digital versatile disc (DVD) is similar to a CD but has larger storage
capacity and enormous clarity. Depending upon the disk type it can store
several Gigabytes of data. DVDs are primarily used to store music or movies
and can be played back on your television or the computer too. These are not
rewritable. Usually store up to 8 GB of data.
Flash Drive: It is a small, portable device that can be used to store, access and
transfer data. Due to its small size, it is commonly called Pen drive. It is also
called USB drive. We can read, write, copy, delete, and move data from
computer to pen drive or pen drive to computer. It comes in various storage
capacities of 2GB, 4GB, 8GB etc. It is popular because it is easy to use and
small enough to be carried in a pocket. This device is plugged into the USB port
of the computer and the computer automatically detects this device.

Processing Unit
The processing unit, also called central processing unit (CPU) or processor is
the central part of the computer where data processing takes place. It is regarded
as the brain of the computer because it is where data is manipulated and
arithmetic and logic is carried out.
It is a computer chip found on the motherboard that carries out instructions,
directs the flow of information through the system, and makes calculations. It
works very quickly carrying out millions of instructions each second.
The processing unit has further included the control unit (CU) and the
arithmetic and logic unit (ALU)
Control Unit (CU)
The control unit is the main component of a central processing unit (CPU) in
computers that can direct the operations during the execution of a program
by the processor/computer. The main function of the control unit is to fetch and
execute instructions from the memory of a computer. It receives the input
instruction from the user and converts it into control signals, which are then
given to the CPU for further execution.
Arithmetic Logic Unit: All calculations and comparisons, based on the
instructions provided, are carried out within the ALU. It performs arithmetic
functions like addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and also logical
operations like greater than, less than and equal to etc.
Computer Security
Security has always been an overriding concern of human kind. For many
organizations, information plays a very important role in running business.
Therefore, it becomes necessary to safeguard information from reaching the
illegal hands. When data takes the shapes of digital form, a different security
procedure is required. This branch of security is called computer security.

Virus
Virus is a program which has been written to interfere with the normal
functioning of the computer. It does this by clogging the memory of the system
by making copies of itself or it may destroy critical information used by other
computer programs.
There are three main types of viruses: Boot sector viruses which infect the boot
sector in the hard disk and affect the partition table, File viruses attach with
executable files. The commonly infected files are those with COM or EXE
extensions. The third, System viruses infect specific system files such as
command.com.
Computer viruses can be grouped into Time Bomb, Trojan Horse, Worm etc.
Time Bomb will start on a particular date, at a particular time. The computer
will lose its ability to function properly.
The virus known as Trojan Horse will enter into a computer through an e-mail
or free programs that have been down loaded from the internet and cause plenty
of damage. Viruses known as Worms are constructed to infiltrate on the
legitimate data processing programs and alter or destroy the data. Worm
programs often use network connections to spread from one computer system to
another system, thus, worms attach system that are linked through
communication lines.
Protecting Computer System Using Antivirus Software
In case the virus is present, it becomes our duty to use some anti-virus software
for preventing virus attacks in future.
Precautions to be taken against viruses.
• Backup copies of all programs and data files should be kept.

MICROSOFT WORD
Microsoft word is a word processing application software. It can be used to
write anything; a small paragraph, a list or even a long document. You can edit
it and give a variety of layout to a word document. You can also check
spellings, grammar and pictures in your text.
Therefore, Microsoft word can simply be defined as a program that enables the
user to type, edit, and format text.
Word Processing: Word-processing is essentially typing, editing, and
manipulation of a document in a desired form.

UNITS OF THE DOCUMENT

Since word-processing is concerned with preparation of a document (in a
desired form), it is important to know the units of the document:
1) Character: It refers to the alphabets, numerical digits, punctuations and
other special symbols which are commonly used in the text.
2) Word: A word is group of characters that are separated from other group
of characters by some delimiters like, comma, full stop and space.
3) Sentence: A sentence is a group of words preceded and followed by
appropriate delimiting characters.
4) Paragraph: It is a group of one or more sentences, paragraphs are
separated by leaving blank lines between them.
5) Pages: It is the amount of text that can be printed on one page of a paper.
6) Chapters: It is a collection of pages
 7) Documents and files: Document is a group of chapters. Usually, a
complete document may be very short such as a memo (or letter) or very
long such as a book consisting of several chapters. These documents are
referred as files.

FORMATTING TOOLBAR
The formatting Tool bar is the easiest way to change many attributes of a text.
Style menu: Allows you to make your text Bold, Italic, underlined… depending
on the style you choose.
Font: Allows you to change the font by clicking on the drop-down arrow on the
right of the font name box. You can view a list of fonts available; you can scroll
down to view more fonts and select the font name you wish to use by clicking
on its name.
Font size: Allows you to change the font size by clicking inside the Font size
box and entering a value or by clicking on the drop-down arrow on the right of
the box to view a list of sizes available. Select then a size by clicking on it.
Bold, Italic, Underline: Each button respectively allows you to make your text
appear as bold, italic or underlined.
Alignment: Each button respectively allows you to make your text aligned to
the left, centre or right side of the page. You can also justify the text across the
page using the justify button.
Line spacing: Allows you to set the amount of space that word puts when go to
a new line.
Text orientation: Allows you to change the typing direction of your text, from
left to right or right to left manner.
Numbering, Bullets: Allows you to make your text appear as a bullets list or as
a numbering list.
Increase / Decrease indent: Allows you to increase or decrease the indentation
of your paragraph in relation to the side of the page.
Outside Border: Allows you to add a border around a text selection.
Highlight colour: Allows you to change the colour behind a text selection (ie
background colour).
Font colour: Allows you to change the colour of the text

MICROSOFT WORD-WORKING WITH FILES

MS-WORD: EDITING TEXT

Typing and Inserting Text:
To enter text in your document, position the insertion point i.e a vertical blinking line, where
you want the text to appear and type it in. Word will automatically wrap text as it reaches the
end of a line. Press enter to start a new paragraph. When you reach the end of a page, word
will automatically break text onto the next page. If you want, you can start a new page at any
point by inserting a page break. To do so, press ctrl +Enter.
Word offers two modes for adding text to your documents: Insert mode and overwrite
mode. In Insert mode, characters typed are inserted into the text to the left of the insertion
point, pushing any characters to the right of the insertion point further to the right.
In overtype mode, the text you type will replace the existing text.
Note: The Insert key is a toggle key. This means that the same key can be used to switch back
and forth between two different modes.
Selecting Text:
In order to change the format of the text you just typed, it must be first highlighted, i.e
selected with the mouse cursor. To highlight the whole text or part of it, locate the mouse at
the start of the text you wish to highlight and click the left button, then drag the mouse over
the desired text while keeping the left mouse button pressed.

Moving, Copying and Pasting Text